Holder for ski pole

ABSTRACT

A holder for carrying a ski pole on a skier includes a clamp adapted to be removably engaged to the ski pole and facilitate a holding of the ski pole with the skier. The clamp includes a clip including a substantially C shape and adapted to engage with the ski pole, and a post extending outwardly from an outer surface of the clip. The holder also includes a coupler coupled to the post and adapted to be removably coupled to a clothing of the skier.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a holder. More particularly, the present disclosure pertains to a holder suitable for holding a ski pole to a clothing of a skier.

BACKGROUND

Ski poles are held in hands by skiers for balance and propulsion on the snow. However, while skiing or waiting in lift lines, skiers need to free their hands to use mobile phones, access backpacks and jacket pockets, etc. For so doing, the skiers, generally, set the ski poles on the ground, insert the tips of the ski poles into the snow, or put the ski poles inside the backpacks, all of which are inconvenient to the skiers.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the disclosure a holder for carrying a ski pole on a skier is disclosed. The holder includes a clamp adapted to be removably engaged to the ski pole and facilitate a holding of the ski pole with the skier. The clamp includes a clip including a substantially C shape and adapted to engage with the ski pole. The clamp also includes a post extending outwardly from an outer surface of the clip. Moreover, the holder includes a coupler coupled to the post and adapted to be removably coupled to a clothing of the skier.

In some embodiments, the coupler includes a retention structure attached to the post to facilitate the coupling of the coupler with the clothing of the skier.

In some embodiments, the post defines a through hole and the retention structure extends through the through hole.

In some embodiments, the retention structure includes a key ring.

In some embodiments, the coupler includes an engagement structure adapted to be removably engaged to the clothing of the skier, and a strap having a first end portion attached to the engagement structure and a second end portion coupled to the post.

In some embodiments, the engagement structure is a carabiner having a frame and a gate pivotally coupled to the frame and adapted to move between an open position and a close position.

In some embodiments, the first end portion of the strap is engaged to the frame.

In some embodiments, the clip is adapted to flex outwardly to facilitate an engagement or disengagement of the clip to the ski pole.

In some embodiments, the clip includes an inner surface defining a cavity to receive the ski pole. Further, the clip defines an opening extending from the inner surface of the clip to the outer surface of the clip to enable an insertion of the ski pole inside the cavity of the clip.

In some embodiments, a diameter of the cavity of the clip is between 20 millimeters to 15 millimeters.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a ski pole assembly is disclosed. The ski pole assembly includes a ski pole having a shaft with a first end and a second end, and a tip adapted to extend inside the snow, and arranged at the first end of the shaft and extending away from the shaft. The ski pole also includes a handle arranged at the second end of the shaft to enable a holding of the ski pole by a skier. The ski pole assembly also includes a holder for carrying a ski pole with the skier. The holder includes a clamp adapted to be removably engaged to the ski pole and facilitate a holding of the ski pole with the skier. The clamp has a clip removably engaged to the shaft of the ski pole and includes a substantially C shape, and a post extending outwardly from an outer surface of the clip. Moreover, the holder includes a coupler coupled to the post and adapted to be removably coupled to a clothing of the skier.

In some embodiments, the coupler includes a retention structure attached to the post to facilitate the coupling of the coupler with the clothing of the skier.

In some embodiments, the post defines a through hole and the retention structure extends through the through hole.

In some embodiments, the retention structure includes a key ring.

In some embodiments, the coupler includes an engagement structure adapted to be removable engaged to the clothing of the skier, and a strap having a first end portion attached to the engagement structure and a second end portion coupled to the post.

In some embodiments, the engagement structure is a carabiner having a frame and a gate pivotally coupled to the frame and adapted to move between an open position and a close position.

In some embodiments, the first end portion of the strap is engaged to the frame.

In some embodiments, the clip is adapted to flex outwardly to facilitate an engagement or disengagement of the clip to the shaft of the ski pole.

In some embodiments, the clip includes an inner surface defining a cavity to receive the shaft of the ski pole. The clip further defines an opening extending from the inner surface of the clip to the outer surface of the clip to enable an insertion of the shaft of the ski pole inside the cavity of the clip.

In some embodiments, a diameter of the cavity of the clip is between 15 millimeters to 20 millimeters.

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, reference is made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. In the drawing, like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a ski pole assembly having a ski pole and a holder attached to the ski pole, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates the holder of FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a clamp of the holder of FIG. 2 , in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise expressly stated in the drawings, the sizes, positions, etc., of components, features, elements, etc., as well as any distances therebetween, are not necessarily to scale, and may be disproportionate and/or exaggerated for clarity.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be recognized that the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Unless otherwise specified, a range of values, when recited, includes both the upper and lower limits of the range, as well as any sub-ranges therebetween. Unless indicated otherwise, terms such as “first,” “second,” etc., are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, one element could be termed a “first element” and similarly, another element could be termed a “second element,” or vice versa. The section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described.

Unless indicated otherwise, the terms “about,” “thereabout,” “substantially,” etc. mean that amounts, sizes, formulations, parameters, and other quantities and characteristics are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the art.

Spatially relative terms, such as “right,” left,” “below,” “beneath,” “lower,” “above,” and “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element or feature, as illustrated in the drawings. It should be recognized that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if an object in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the term “below” can, for example, encompass both an orientation of above and below. An object may be otherwise oriented (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may be interpreted accordingly.

Unless clearly indicated otherwise, all connections and all operative connections may be direct or indirect. Similarly, unless clearly indicated otherwise, all connections and all operative connections may be rigid or non-rigid.

Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Thus, the same or similar numbers may be described with reference to other drawings even if they are neither mentioned nor described in the corresponding drawing. Also, even elements that are not denoted by reference numbers may be described with reference to other drawings.

Many different forms and embodiments are possible without deviating from the spirit and teachings of this disclosure and so this disclosure should not be construed as limited to the example embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a ski pole assembly 100 having a ski pole 102 and a holder 104 removably engaged to the ski pole 102 is shown. The holder 104 is adapted to be removably engaged with a clothing of a person/skier to facilitate a holding/carrying of the ski pole 102 with the skier, thereby freeing the hands of the skier/person for other works or garbing objects, for example, mobile phones, back packs, etc., while skiing. As shown, the ski pole 102 includes a shaft 106 having a first end 108 (i.e., bottom end 108) and a second end 110 (i.e., top end 110), a basket 112 attached to the shaft 106 and arranged at the first end 108 of the shaft 106, and a tip 116 extending from the basket 112 in a direction away from the shaft 106 and adapted to pierce and extend inside the snow during skiing. The ski pole 102 also includes a handle 118 arranged at the second end 110 of the shaft 106 to enable a holding o of the ski pole 102 by the skier. In an embodiment, the shaft 106 may be a tapered shaft with a diameter of the shaft 106 increasing continuously from the first end 108 to the second end 110. Alternatively, the shaft 106 may be a cylindrical shaft having a substantially constant diameter along its entire length. The handle 118 may be made of molded plastic and may include indentations on its outer surface to increase a grip of the skier on the ski pole 102.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 , the holder 104 is adapted to be removably engaged to the shaft 106, and includes a clamp 120 adapted to be engaged with the shaft 106. As shown, the clamp 120 includes a C-shaped clip 122 having an outer surface 124 and an inner surface 126 defining a cavity 128 through which the shaft 106 extends in an assembly of the holder 104 with the ski pole 102. Further, the clip 122 defines an opening 130 extending from the outer surface 124 to the inner surface 126 to enable an insertion and/or removal of the shaft 106 from the cavity 128. As shown in FIG. 1 , in the engagement of the holder 104 with the ski pole 102, the clip 122 is arranged surrounding an outer circumference of the shaft 106, and the inner surface 126 abuts the shaft 106. In an embodiment, the clip 122 may be adapted to flex outwardly to increase a size of the opening 130 to enable an insertion of the shaft 106 inside the cavity 128 and removal of the shaft 106 from the cavity 128. The clip 122 may flex inwardly to the original position once the flexing force is removed. It may be appreciated that an internal diameter of the clip 122 is substantially equal to a diameter of a portion of the shaft 106 at a location proximate to the top end 110 of the shaft 106. In an embodiment, a diameter ‘D’ of the cavity 128 is between approximately 15 millimeters and 20 millimeters, while a width ‘W’ of the opening 130 is between approximately 10 millimeters and 15 millimeters. In an embodiment, the diameter ‘D’ is approximately 20 millimeters, and the width ‘W’ is 15 millimeters.

Further, the clamp 120 includes a post/leg 140 attached to the outer surface 124 of the clip 122 and extending outwardly of the clip 122. In an embodiment, the post 140 may extend substantially tangentially to the outer surface 124 of the clip 122, and includes a first end 142 connected to the clip 122 and a second end 144 (i.e., free end 144) arranged away/distally from the clip 122. The first end 142 of the post 140 may be connected to the clip 122 at a location diametrically opposite to the opening 130 of the clip 122. In some embodiments, the post 140 may extend radially outwardly from the outer surface 124 of the clip 122. Furter, the post 140 defines a through hole 146 extending from a first surface 148 of the post 140 to a second surface 150 of the post 140, and arranged proximate to the second end 144 of the post 140.

Additionally, the holder 104 includes a coupler 152 adapted to couple to the post 140 of the clamp 120 and engage/couple/attach with the clothing, for example, backpacks, snow pants, zippers, etc., of the skier. In an embodiment, the coupler 152 includes a retention structure 154 engaged with the post 140 and facilitates the coupling of the clamp 120 (i.e., the holder 104) with the clothing of the skier. As shown, the retention structure 154 is a key ring 156 that extends through the hole 146 of the post 140 and retains the clamp 120. Although the retention structure 154 is shown and contemplated as the key ring 156, it may be appreciated that any other type of retention structure 154, such as, but not limited to, J type hook, lobster claw, carabiner clip, swivel clasp, or any other lanyard attachment structure known in the art and suitable for attachment to the post 140 may also be utilized.

Further, the coupler 152 may include an engagement structure 160 coupled to the retention structure 154 and adapted to be removably engaged with the clothing of the skier. In an embodiment, the engagement structure 160 may be carabiner 162 having a frame 164, a gate 166 pivotally coupled to the frame 164 and adapted to move between an open position and a close position. Further, the gate 166 may include a locking member (not shown) to retain and/or lock the gate in 166 the close position. In the close position, the gate 166 is arranged covering a gate opening of the carabiner 162. The carabiner 162 is coupled/attached/engaged with the clothing by moving the gate 166 into the open position, inserting a portion of the clothing inside the carabiner 162 through the gate opening and closing the gate opening by moving the gate 166 to the lock position. The gate 166 may retained in the close position by the locking member. Although the carabiner 162 is shown and contemplated as the engagement structure 160, it may be appreciated that the any other type of engagement structure 160, such as, but not limited to, J-hook, swivel clip, lobster claw, key ring, dog clip, crocodile clip, or any other such lanyard attachment known in the art and suitable to facilitate the engagement of the holder 104 with the clothing of the skier may also be utilized. The engagement structure 160 (i.e., the carabiner 162) is coupled to the clamp 120 by a strap 172 of the coupler 152.

As shown, the strap 172 includes a first end portion 174 coupled/attached to the engagement structure 160 (i.e., carabiner 162), and a second end portion 176 coupled to the retention structure 154. The first end portion 174 may in the form of loop that circles around a portion of the frame 164 of the carabiner 162. Similarly, the second end portion 176 of the strap 172 may be in the form a loop that circles around a portion of the key ring 156 (i.e., the retention structure 154) and is attached to the key ring 156 (i.e., the retention structure 154). In an embodiment, the retention structure 154 may be omitted, and the second end portion 176 of the strap 172 may be attached to the clamp 120 (i.e., the post 140) such that the second end portion 176 extends through the hole 146 and circles around a bottom portion of the post 140. In some embodiments, both the engagement structure 160 and the strap 172 may be omitted. In such a case, the retention structure 154 is engaged to both the clamp 120 and the clothing of the skier. In some embodiments, the engagement structure 160 or the strap 172 may be omitted.

A method of engaging the ski pole 102 to the holder 104 is now described. To hold the ski pole 102 with the skier without using his/her hand, the skier engages the holder 104 to clothing, for example, a belt, a backpack, a pant, etc., worn by the skier. For so doing, the skier engages the coupler 152 with the clothing. Thereafter, during the skiing, when the skier wants to hold/use other objects using his/her hand, the skier engages the clamp 120 (i.e., the clip 122) with the shaft 106 of the ski pole 102 by inserting the shaft 106 inside the cavity 128 of the clip 122 through the opening 130 of the clip 122. For so doing, the skier may lift the ski pole 102 and inserts a bottom portion of the shaft 106 inside the cavity 128 of the clip 122 through the opening 130, and pushes the clamp 120 (i.e., clip 122) towards the top end 110 of the shaft 106. It may be appreciated that the clamp 120 is pushed towards the top end 110 of the shaft 106 until the clip 122 is tightly fitted on the shaft 106, and thereby shaft 106 is firmly secured inside the clip 122. Alternatively, for attaching the clamp 120 with the ski pole 102, the skier may position the clip 122 proximate to the top end 110 of the shaft 106 such that ends of the clip 122 abuts the shaft 106. Subsequently, the skier may insert the shaft 106 inside the cavity 128 of the clip 122 through the opening 130 by applying a pushing force on the clamp 120 or the shaft 106. Due to the push force applied on the clamp 120, the clip is flexed outwardly, causing an increase in the size of the opening 130 of the clip 122 that results in insertion of the shaft 106 inside the cavity 128 of the clip 122. Accordingly, the ski pole 102 is engaged with the clamp 120 and is held with the skier via the holder 104.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A holder for carrying a ski pole on a skier, the holder comprising: a clamp adapted to be removably engaged to the ski pole and facilitate a holding of the ski pole with the skier, the clamp including a clip including a substantially C shape and adapted to engage with the ski pole, and a post extending outwardly from an outer surface of the clip; and a coupler coupled to the post and adapted to be removably coupled to a clothing of the skier.
 2. The holder of claim 1, wherein the coupler includes a retention structure attached to the post to facilitate the coupling of the coupler with the clothing of the skier.
 3. The holder of claim 2, wherein the post defines a through hole and the retention structure extends through the through hole.
 4. The holder of claim 3, wherein the retention structure includes a key ring.
 5. The holder of claim 1, wherein the coupler includes an engagement structure adapted to be removably engaged to the clothing of the skier, and a strap having a first end portion attached to the engagement structure and a second end portion coupled to the post.
 6. The holder of claim 5, wherein the engagement structure is a carabiner having a frame and a gate pivotally coupled to the frame and adapted to move between an open position and a close position.
 7. The holder of claim 6, wherein the first end portion of the strap is engaged to the frame.
 8. The holder of claim 1, wherein the clip is adapted to flex outwardly to facilitate an engagement or disengagement of the clip to the ski pole.
 9. The holder of claim 1, wherein the clip includes an inner surface defining a cavity to receive the ski pole, and the clip defines an opening extending from the inner surface of the clip to the outer surface of the clip to enable an insertion of the ski pole inside the cavity of the clip.
 10. The holder of claim 9, wherein a diameter of the cavity of the clip is between 15 millimeters to 20 millimeters.
 11. A ski pole assembly, comprising: a ski pole including a shaft having a first end and a second end, a tip adapted to extend inside the snow and arranged at the first end of the shaft, the tip extends away from the shaft, and a handle arranged at the second end of the shaft to enable a holding of the ski pole by a skier; and a holder for carrying a ski pole with the skier, the holder including a clamp adapted to be removably engaged to the ski pole and facilitate a holding of the ski pole with the skier, the clamp including a clip having a substantially C shape and adapted to be removably engaged to the shaft of the ski pole, and a post extending outwardly from an outer surface of the clip, and a coupler coupled to the post and adapted to be removably coupled to a clothing of the skier.
 12. The ski pole assembly of claim 11, wherein the coupler includes a retention structure attached to the post to facilitate the coupling of the coupler with the clothing of the skier.
 13. The ski pole assembly of claim 12, wherein the post defines a through hole and the retention structure extends through the through hole.
 14. The ski pole assembly of claim 12, wherein the retention structure includes a key ring.
 15. The ski pole assembly of claim 11, wherein the coupler includes an engagement structure adapted to be removably engaged to the clothing of the skier, and a strap having a first end portion attached to the engagement structure and a second end portion coupled to the post.
 16. The ski pole assembly of claim 15, wherein the engagement structure is a carabiner having a frame and a gate pivotally coupled to the frame and adapted to move between an open position and a close position.
 17. The ski pole assembly of claim 16, wherein the first end portion of the strap is engaged to the frame.
 18. The ski pole assembly of 11, wherein the clip is adapted to flex outwardly to facilitate an engagement or disengagement of the clip to the shaft of the ski pole.
 19. The ski pole assembly of claim 11, wherein the clip includes an inner surface defining a cavity to receive the ski pole, and the clip defines an opening extending from the inner surface of the clip to the outer surface of the clip to enable an insertion of the ski pole inside the cavity of the clip.
 20. The ski pole assembly of claim 19, wherein a diameter of the cavity of the clip is between 15 millimeters to 20 millimeters. 